Interior designers Katie Ridder and Thomas Jayne applaud a style that has been adding charm and exotic flair to homes for centuries

In the 17th and 18th centuries, as tourists and traders ventured eastward, a fascination with all things Asian swept Europe. Inspired by travelers' sketchbooks and imported porcelain and lacquerware, designers layered their furniture, interiors, and ceramics with fantastical Chinese imagery, resulting in the perennially popular style called chinoiserie.

Now as then, an exotic accent achieves the same desired effect: "Chinoiserie brings worldly sophistication to a space," says decorator Katie Ridder. Her own projects sparkle with examples, from colorful fret-back chairs (styled after bamboo) to japanned furniture (Europe's take on Asian lacquer).

Designer Thomas Jayne points out that chinoiserie introduced new shapes and palettes to Western decor. "So many styles, from Chippendale to Danish modern"—Hans Wegner's Wishbone chair, for example—"owe a debt to Asia," he says. "The materials may change over the years, but the style continues to have appeal centuries later."